Potential Frampton foe Quigg brought the distance by Othake

Scott Quigg defended his WBA Super Bantamweight title for the fifth time with a wide points win over Hidenori Othake at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, live on Sky Sports Box Office.

Quigg peppered the Japanese champion from start to finish, but the courageous visitor would not be removed despite a nasty cut over the right eye that the doctors had several looks at in the last few rounds.

Othake deserved to hear the final bell after his determined effort, and the judges awarded the fight 119-109, 119-109 and 118-110 in favour of Quigg, who praised his opponent at the bell.

Quigg said: “I tell you what, I know his head is tough, I tried to pour on the gas at the end and landed some great combinations but he wasn’t going nowhere and fair play to him, but 12 rounds is never a bad thing to get under your belt.”

Eddie Hearn added: “Scott has earned a holiday over Christmas but we’re looking at March 28 in Manchester. It takes two to tango, we want those big fight and we’re pushing for them all the time.”